From 15 April 2013 to 31 May 2013, 17 Year Six MBBS students from Imperial College London are taking their overseas medical elective in Singapore as part of the LKCMedicine Elective Programme.

They were first inducted at NTU & LKCMedicine from 15 to 19 April 2013, after which the students begin their three week or six week Clinical and Research Elective Placements during the period of 22 April 2013 to 31 May 2013.

During this post-finals elective period, the Imperial students will experience different healthcare systems in this case, Singapore.

This programme is designed to experience in some specialities for the first time. Additionally, students obtain an understanding of differences and similarities in disease patterns and presentations in different countries. They will also gain a greater confidence in the management of common medical and surgical conditions. Students will get the opportunity to network with peers from Singapore to appreciate the differences and similarities in medical students’ experience.

"Imperial College London is very well established and well regarded as one of the leading medical schools in the world. To have so many Imperial students here on elective speaks volumes of the reputation of our hospital," says Associate Professor Tham Kum Ying, LKCMedicine's Assistant Dean as well as Tan Tock Seng Hospital Assistant Chairman Medical Board (Education) and Emergency Department Senior Consultant.

During the induction, these 17 students visit various healthcare institutions and research centres in Singapore. They also learn about the various healthcare and bioscience research currently conducted at NTU as well get the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians regarding the healthcare and illness landscape in Singapore.

Senior Assistant Director, Student Life and Services Renay Taylor says"The LKCMedicine Elective Programme gives the Imperial medical students an orientation to the key healthcare institutions and healthcare services in Singapore. Students will gain an overview of the healthcare burdens in Singapore and a deeper understanding of healthcare treatment and service delivery for patients in Singapore compared to that of the UK."

They then start their having clinical placements at some of LKCMedicine’s healthcare partners such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, KK Women and Children’s Hospital, the National Skin Centre and Bukit Batok Polyclinic, as well as a research placement at LKCMedicine.

Dr Mike Barrett, Electives Director at Imperial College London, says "LKCMedicine has created an exceptional elective program and the students are all excited about their elective in Singapore. We also hope to welcome LKCMedicine elective students in London in a few years' time."